The 11th International Topical Meeting on High Temperature Reactor Technology (HTR 2024) was held in Beijing, China, from October 14 to 18, 2024, attracting over 210 distinguished guests and delegates from around the world, including 54 international participants. The conference was co-hosted by the Institute of Nuclear and New Energy Technology (INET) of Tsinghua University and the High Temperature Reactor Branch of Chinese Nuclear Society (CNS). It delved into the advancements and applications of High Temperature Gas-cooled Reactor (HTGR) technology including heat applications. The program featured impressive 115 oral presentations, which were delivered across 1 keynote session, 6 panel sessions, and 19 technical sessions spanning 8 thematic tracks.
The conference was officially launched with a lineup of distinguished opening addresses by key figures in the nuclear sector, including Mr. Dominique Hittner, representing the International Organizing Committee of the HTR conference series, Mr. Frederik Reitsma, Section Head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Mr. Lu Tiezhong, Chairman of China National Nuclear Power Company, Mr. Zhang Tao, Vice President of China Huaneng Group, and Mr. Zhang Zuoyi, INET Director and Chair of the conference’s International Organizing Committee.
In his address, Mr. Zhang Zuoyi extended his heartfelt gratitude to several professors and industry leaders who have significantly contributed to the development of HTGR technology in China, including Professors R. Schulten, K. Kugeler, and G. Lohnert from Germany, Professors Wang Dazhong, Wu Zongxin, and Xu Yuanhui from China, as well as Mr. Zhang Tao, Mr. Lu Tiezhong, and Mr. Wang Shoujun from Chinese nuclear industry. He then outlined the development of HTR-PM in China through four distinct phases: the preparatory stage, the approval of the construction permit and the start of formal construction, the completion of construction and the issuance of the operating permit, and the subsequent commissioning tests. Zhang concluded by emphasizing the commitment to strengthening the industrial suppling chain, simplifying the design, and improving the economy in the follow-up projects.
In the keynote session moderated by Prof. Wang Haitao, Deputy Director of INET, Mr. Frederik Reitsma of IAEA delivered an insightful presentation entitled “a bright future for HTRs and SMRs, and the role of IAEA plays to support deployment in member states”. Meanwhile, Ms. Chang Bing from the China Nuclear Energy Association (CNEA), shared her expertise in a presentation on “China’s nuclear energy status and prospects”.
The technical sessions were organized into 8 thematic tracks: national research programs and industrial projects; industrial applications and markets; fuel and waste; materials, components and manufacturing; reactor physics analysis; thermal-hydraulics, structural and multiphysics analyses; development, design and engineering; and safety and licensing.
At the closing ceremony, Prof. Dong Yujie, Deputy Director of INET and Chair of the Local Organizing Committee, summarized some of the highlights of the conference:
qThe potential of high-temperature steam and hydrogen production from HTGRs has garnered significant interest from numerous countries, with a diverse array of design options being explored.
qMany projects have been launched in countries like Poland, Indonesia, US, UK, Japan, Korea, and China.
qHTR-PM has entered commercial operation. New HTR-PM600S was approved by Government. Cogeneration of high temperature steam will be demonstrated. Standard NSSS module plus multiple modules are ready. Full supply chain has been established in China.
qInnovation abounds with the invention and development of numerous new designs, materials, components, processes, codes, algorithms, and standards.
qInternational cooperation is flourishing within the frameworks of IAEA, GIF, OECD/NEA, EU and various bilateral and multilateral arrangements.
qThe HTR conference series stands as a well-recognized and efficient platform for sharing advancements and fostering collaboration in HTGR technology.
Dong also extended his heartfelt appreciation to the co-organizers of the event, including Shanghai Electric Group Co., Ltd., China North Nuclear Fuel Co., Ltd, China Nuclear Power Operation Technology Corporation Co., Ltd, China Techenergy Co., Ltd., Chengdu Taihua Zhongcheng Technology Group Co., Ltd., and Chinergy Co., Ltd.
The conference traces its origin back to 2002, when it was inaugurated by the European High Temperature Reactor Technology Network (HTR-TN) at Petten, the Netherlands. Since then, the HTR conference series has traversed the globe, with previous meetings held in China (Beijing, 2004), South Africa (Johannesburg, 2006), the USA (Washington DC, 2008), Czech Republic (Prague, 2010), Japan (Tokyo, 2012), China (Weihai, 2014), the USA (Las Vegas, 2016), Poland (Warsaw, 2018), and Indonesia (Yogyakarta, 2021).
